Understanding Disability
SoftBank Corp. offers a special “Heart Friend Discount” which provides customers with disabilities with a discount on basic usage fees and other benefits, enabling them to use services with peace of mind. We also provide other services that cater for people with various disabilities, including a help desk where customers can communicate through sign language.
Supporting the daily lives and social participation
Providing an environment where diverse people can work together
We are promoting “Short-Time Work” in collaboration with the Human Assistive Technology Laboratory at the University of Tokyo's Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology. This initiative allows individuals who face challenges working long hours-due to disabilities, child-rearing, caregiving, illness, or other reasons-to gain employment for less than 20 hours per week. By fostering an inclusive work style that realizes “working together” through creating supportive work environments, we aim to make this a viable employment option not only within our company but also across various businesses. By leveraging each individual's unique traits and experiences, we are creating employment opportunities for a more diverse range of people, which is expected to lead to more effective utilization of human resources in companies and communities.
“Zero Project Award 2025”
“Short-Time Work” has received the “Zero Project Award” established by the Austrian non-profit Essl Foundation with the aim of realizing a world without barriers.
The “Zero Project Award 2025” was based on the theme of “Employment and ICT” and received 522 applications from 90 countries, of which 77, including “Short-Time Work,” received the award.
Supporting the daily lives and social participation
of children with disabilities
We provide an assist guide, an application that visually presents things to do and how to do them in daily life. Using children with intellectual or developmental disabilities as an example, the app helps children with problems to see what they need to do and how to do it visually so that they can see what is ahead and be able to do things they could not do on their own.
The “Assistive Guide” allows parents and supporters to easily create things to do and how to do them, thus reducing the burden on parents and supporters and enabling them to provide detailed support. AssistGuide is compatible with all Japanese carriers and is available for free by simply downloading the app.
A society in which everyone can communicate
with each other
Facilitating use by a wide range of customers
We provide a special “Heart Friend Discount” which provides customers with disabilities with a discount on basic usage fees and other benefits in order to encourage the wide-ranging use of SoftBank mobile phones by people with disabilities as a tool to help them to communicate more fully and participate in society. By combining this Heart Friend Discount with our normal payment plans, they can use services at lower prices than usual.
Mirairo ID can be used in place of disability certificate
To apply for the HeartFriend Discount, you will need to show your disability certificate, but you can use the “Mirairo ID” application for smartphones provided by Mirairo Inc. in place of your disability certificate.
Sign language counter and video support system
Since 2010, SoftBank Shibuya has featured a “sign language counter” staffed by sign language specialists where customers with hearing impairments can inquire about mobile handsets and easily handle contract procedures. We also offer a remote sign language counter service, where SoftBank crew staff provide sign language guidance by connecting the sign language counters with nationwide stores staffed with smartphone advisors via video phone.
Telephone relay service
We have introduced* the Telephone Relay Service to help secure and improve the accessibility to telecommunication services and means of communication for people with disabilities. This service enables people with hearing or speech difficulties to communicate with the other party of the call by interpreting “sign language” or text and voice through a sign language interpreter operator. The service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in both directions, and can also be used to contact emergency call centers.
In addition, the telephone relay service system requires all telephone companies to share the cost of providing this service, and we ask our customers who use our cell phone service, IP phone service, direct dialing service to pay the telephone relay service fee.
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Institutionalization as public infrastructure
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Game de Manaberu Shuwa Jiten: a sign language app
Originating from a wish to foster a social environment that enables barrier-free communication for all, SoftBank offers a sign language app called Game de Asoberu Shuwa Jiten (meaning “A Sign Language Dictionary You Can Play as a Game”). The app encompasses approximately 3,000 signs which can be viewed from 360 degrees in 3D animations*1 that are based on actual captured gestures.
The app was developed to promote greater interest in sign language not just for regular users, but also for people who often come into contact with the hearing impaired, such as school teachers and hospitality workers. Through this we aim to help raise people's level of interest in sign language.
This application became the first sign language app to be recommended by the Tokyo Federation of Deaf. In addition, it received the Silver Award at the IAUD Awards 2014 sponsored by the International Association for Universal Design.
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- *1A special camera is used to capture the actual movements of a person, and this motion data is applied to 3D characters.
- *Android has been added to the supported models from May 2020.
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Koe-Tora, an app that supports people with hearing disabilities
In order to support people with Game de Manaberu Shuwa to communicate more fully and play a larger role in society, we are aiding the development of Koe-Tora, an app that supports people with hearing disabilities provided by FEAT Limited.
Koe-Tora can play text inputted by people with hearing disabilities out loud as speech and display the speech produced by their conversation partner as text, enabling smooth communication support using only a smartphone or similar device.
Helping para-athletes to chase their dreams
without limitations
Special Olympics sponsor
Special Olympics is a global sports organization that offers a variety of year-round training opportunities and competitions for people with intellectual disabilities. As a nonprofit organization, Special Olympics is run by volunteers and sustained by charitable donations.
SoftBank have been supporting the activities of the Special Olympics Nippon since 2005.
As a sponsor, we provided personal handy-phone system (PHS) technology for use during Special Olympics events. The low electromagnetic wave technology of PHS was well-received as a safe and effective method of communication, and was utilized both by event staff and for emergency communications with on-the-ground physicians to respond to athlete illness and injury.
Supporting para-athletes
We support para-athletes (athletes with disabilities) who are aiming to realize their dreams while doing their best at both work and competitive activities to keep going without limitations no matter what happens. In addition to supporting competitive activities in ways that include providing an environment in which they can balance these activities with work, we are also working to combine the experience cultivated by these athletes with the use and application of information and communications technology to solve social issues with the aim of becoming a richly diverse company where people with a wide range of disabilities can work comfortably.
Affiliated athlete
Para-Taekwondo athlete Shoko Ota
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Affiliate department:
CSR Division -
We support para-athletes (athletes with disabilities) who are aiming to realize their dreams while doing their best at both work and competitive activities to keep going without limitations no matter what happens. In addition to supporting competitive activities in ways that include providing an environment in which they can balance these activities with work, we are also working to combine the experience cultivated by these athletes with the use and application of information and communications technology to solve social issues with the aim of becoming a richly diverse company where people with a wide range of disabilities can work comfortably.
Main achievements
Retired from ski events in April 2014. Started training in para-Taekwondo to help popularize para-sports.
para-Taekwondo 2021 - 2020 Tokyo Paralympics Women's +58kg class: 7th place
2019 - 8th World Para Taekwondo Championships: Bronze medal
- U.S. Open Para Taekwondo Championships: Bronze medal
- 2019 Pan American Para Taekwondo Open Championships: Bronze medal
2018 - 4th Asian Para Open Taekwondo Championships 2016: Bronze medal
2016 - 2nd Asian Para Open Taekwondo Championships 2016: Bronze medal
ski 2014 - 2014 Sochi Winter Paralympics
Women's 6km Biathlon: 6th place,
Cross-Country Skiing 1km Sprint: 8th place,
Mixed Relay: 7th place
2010 - 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympics
1km Sprint Classic: silver medal, Biathlon Pursuit: 7th place
2006 - 2006 Torino Winter Paralympics
Women's 12.5km Biathlon: Bronze medal
Give a shout out with “Sports Cheering OTOSAN”!
The “Sports Cheering OTOSAN” logo is a symbol of support for athletes and children who never give up and challenge their dreams. It is printed on the chest and arms of Ms. Ota's Taekwondo uniform, and is meant to encourage her to pursue her dreams in para-Taekwondo while balancing her competitive activities with her work.